The Rethink the Rex community group is holding a public meeting on Tuesday April the 5th at 6pm at the Daylesford Town Hall to discuss the future of the Rex.
The Rex, in Vincent Street Daylesford, was built as a theatre in the 1920s. The Shire bought the building for a community hub 2016 following a failed shopping arcade development. But a series of poor planning decisions and cost overruns led to the project being abandoned by Council late last year. Instead Council announced its decision to sell the Rex and consider other options for the community services mooted for the hub, including the community cinema.
There has been mixed feeling about the Council’s decision and this has led to the formation of the ‘Rethink the Rex’ community group aimed at halting the sale pending a proper community consultation.
The group has been researching the processes that have occurred since Council purchased the building in 2016 and it intends to provide this information to the meeting.
The heritage value of the building, identified youth and community needs, alternatives to sale, potential private and public use of the building and site, financial perspectives and innovative ideas will be presented together with some initiatives from other regional areas.
The thorny issue of ‘to sell or not to sell’ will also be explored.
Community members will have opportunity to express their views and ask questions. The Rethink the Rex group wants the public meeting to be followed by a comprehensive community consultation conducted by council. They see the public meeting as a useful forerunner providing both information and stimulus for community involvement.
Jules McDonald, Convenor of the Rethink the Rex group said “Whatever the final decision or solution, it is important that the community is fully informed and has a real opportunity to explore possibilities and express their views.”
For more information contact Jules McDonald on 0400 455 993 or email at julesmcd11@gmail.com